App developed in AZ warns of dust storm danger - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

App developed in AZ warns of dust storm danger

Posted: Updated:
By Phil Benson - email
New dust storm app (Source: U of A) New dust storm app (Source: U of A)

  • Most Popular StoriesMost Popular Stories

  • Tuesday, June 18 2013 11:13 AM EDT2013-06-18 15:13:35 GMT
    One person is in critical condition and another behind bars after a shooting in Moss Point. According to Police Chief Keith Davis, a man from Pascagoula was shot twice in the upper torso around 9:30pm
    One person is in critical condition and another behind bars after a shooting in Moss Point. According to Police Chief Keith Davis, a man from Pascagoula was shot twice in the upper torso area around 9:30 Monday night. Investigators say it happened on Church Street near the Hall Street intersection in a car.

  • Tuesday, June 18 2013 6:50 AM EDT2013-06-18 10:50:04 GMT
    A Gulfport man's front yard turned into a movie set Monday, as a film crew for "Category 5" took over.
    Fred Bradley, 77, never imagined his home of nearly 50 years would end up being the set of a movie much less having actor Burt Reynolds play in a scene at his house.

  • Tuesday, June 18 2013 11:37 AM EDT2013-06-18 15:37:31 GMT
    Some Jackson County supervisors don't want to see people carrying guns in parks and other public areas, despite a new gun law in the state.
    Some Jackson County supervisors don't want to see people carrying guns in parks and other public areas despite a new gun law in the state. As WLOX has reported, starting July 1st Mississippians will be able to openly carry a gun and other weapons with or without a permit.   Some Jackson county leaders want to create a local ordinance to keep weapons in check.
    •   
TUCSON, AZ (CBS5) -

The University of Arizona has created a mobile application for iPhones that provides dust storm alerts and safety tips.

The free app uses a person's geographical location anywhere in the country to determine if there is danger of a dust storm, or any other type of storm, in the area. The warnings come directly from the WeatherBug service.

"Dust storms are so common in Arizona, and so many people are killed on the road because they don't know what to do," said Kirk Astroth, the brainchild behind the app. "We wanted to help."

Astroth is UA assistant dean of Cooperative Extension and director of the Arizona 4-H Youth Development program in the UA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

In addition to storm alerts, the app provides a list of specific tips for what to do when a dust storm hits.

The app also offers a place to list emergency phone numbers or insurance policy numbers drivers may want to have readily available in a storm.

It also provides a list of things people should keep in their cars as part of a Dust Storm Survival Kit. Some of those items include water, snacks or energy bars, a basic first aid kit, flashlight, dust mask and a whistle or pocket siren to signal for help.

An Android version of the app is expected to be released later this month or next month.

Copyright 2013 CBS 5 (KPHO Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.